What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

There is a shortage of donors. You may be on a transplant list for some time. You may need to carry a cell phone with you at all times. This is to allow the transplant team to reach you if a liver becomes available.

Anesthesia

Description of the Procedure

An incision shaped like a boomerang will be made on the upper part of the abdomen. The old liver will be removed. Portions of major blood vessels will be left in place. The new liver will be inserted and attached to the blood vessels and bile ducts. To help with bile drainage, a tube will also be inserted into the bile duct during surgery. The area will be closed with stitches.

Immediately After Procedure

You will be closely monitored in the intensive care unit (ICU) and will have the following devices:

Breathing tube until you can breathe on your own

IV fluids and medication

Bladder catheter to drain urine

How Long Will It Take?

Several hours

How Much Will It Hurt?

Anesthesia will prevent pain during surgery. Pain and discomfort after the procedure can be managed with medications.

Average Hospital Stay

This surgery is done in a hospital setting. The usual length of stay is several weeks. Your doctor may choose to keep you longer if you show signs of rejecting the new liver or have other problems.

Post-procedure Care

At the Hospital

While you are recovering at the hospital, you will:

Receive fluids and nutrition through an IV—You will slowly transition to eating.

Breathe deeply and cough 10-20 times every hour—This will help your lungs work better after surgery.

Take immunosuppressive drugs—You will need to take these for the rest of your life. These drugs reduce the chance that your body will reject the new liver. They also have potential side effects, like infection and cancer. Be sure to discuss these risks with your doctor.

At Home

When you return home, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:

Take proper care of the incision site. This will help to prevent an infection.

Work with a physical therapist. Exercises will help you to regain strength.

Monitor your temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and weight.

Follow a special diet. This diet will help to prevent water retention and to maintain a normal weight and blood pressure.

Take medications as advised by your doctor.

Recovery time varies. It depends, in part, on your health before the transplant.

Call Your Doctor

It is important for you to monitor your recovery after you leave the hospital. Alert your doctor to any problems right away. If any of the following occur, call your doctor:

Signs of infection, including fever and chills—you are at increased risk for infection because of the immunosuppressive drugs

Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge from the incision site

Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain

Severe nausea or vomiting

Black or tarry stools, constipation, or
diarrhea
that does not go away after two loose stools

You are unable to take your medications

Bruising

Red or rusty-brown urine

Any skin rash or sores in your mouth

Vaginal discharge in women

Pain, burning, urgency, frequency of urination, or persistent bleeding in the urine

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

What I need to know about liver transplantation. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders website. Available at:
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/liver-disease/liver-transplant/Pages/facts.aspx. Updated May 10, 2012. Accessed August 15, 2014.